
Tools to help you
Essential tools to monitor your health and have productive conversations with a doctor.
Losing weight and keeping it off is often seen as a question of “energy in and energy out” – in other words, how much you eat and how much you move. But science has proven that there are many causes of overweight and obesity, some of which are beyond your awareness or control.1,2
Obesity is a chronic disease. And just like many other chronic diseases, it develops over time from a combination of biological, psychological and environmental factors.1,3
The causes of overweight and obesity are complicated and vary from person to person. These include:1,4
There are many factors that not only lead to weight gain, but can make it difficult to lose the weight and keep it off. Understandably, it can be hard to know the best way forward in treating or managing overweight and obesity.
Although the causes of overweight and obesity are complex, there are people who think that it's only a matter of lifestyle. It's a common belief that if a person only ate the right food and exercised in the right way, they wouldn't gain weight.2,4
On some level, it is true. Losing weight does depend on the balance between how much energy you have (from the type and amount of food you eat) and how much energy you use (by exercising or carrying out normal body functions like breathing). But, this dramatically simplifies the issue and can be hurtful for people living with overweight or obesity. Eating less and moving more isn't always enough to manage your weight.4
By taking an approach to obesity that is similar to other chronic diseases, healthcare professionals can help you transition to a healthier lifestyle.
To manage your weight in the best way, the first step is to identify which causes play a role. Since these vary from person to person, the approach should too. Every individual needs to manage their weight and address their own specific barriers to losing weight in a different way.
Essential tools to monitor your health and have productive conversations with a doctor.
Talk to a doctor about treatment options that could help prevent the weight you lose from coming back.
Use our helpful guide to prepare for a productive conversation with a doctor about what could be contributing to your weight gain, and to help you create a weight management plan to suit your needs.